Bukayo Saka, Cristiano Ronaldo
Bukayo Saka, Cristiano Ronaldo
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Captains are often asked to reflect on the teammates who have stood out across different stages of their career. The answers can range from established internationals at previous clubs to those who share the current dressing room. Those lists rarely follow a single pattern and tend to mix long-term influence with recent form.
The quality of a goalkeeper or a wide attacker can shape how a midfielder views his own role in the team. Regular connection on the pitch, combined with consistent performances over a season, often places those players higher than pure reputation. When the captain singles them out alongside global names, it carries weight within the squad.
Interviews that cover five-best lists also reveal how players weigh different types of contribution. Some selections reward technical ability and leadership, while others highlight reliability in key positions. The inclusion of current teammates alongside former stars usually points to the strength of the present group.
Martin Ødegaard has named Bukayo Saka and David Raya among the five best players he has ever played with, according to BBC Sport. The Arsenal captain listed Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Saka, Erling Haaland and Raya when asked for his top five.
“Ronaldo, Luka Modric. Bukayo Saka, Haaland, David Raya man, he’s unbelievable at the moment,” Ødegaard said. The Norwegian has shared a dressing room with Ronaldo and Modric during his time at Real Madrid, while Haaland has been a regular teammate with the Norway national side.
Saka and Raya are the two current Arsenal players on the list. Ødegaard and Saka have formed one of the most productive partnerships on the right side of the pitch in recent seasons, with the winger frequently receiving the ball in advanced areas from the captain. Raya has established himself as Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper and has been credited with strong performances across both the Premier League and Champions League.
The selection places two members of the present squad alongside three of the highest-profile players Ødegaard has encountered. Ronaldo and Modric represent his early years at Real Madrid, while Haaland reflects the connection built through international duty. The inclusion of Saka and Raya underlines the level the current Arsenal side is operating at from the captain’s perspective.
Ødegaard has captained Arsenal since 2022 and has been central to the team’s improvement under Mikel Arteta. His willingness to highlight teammates in the same conversation as Ronaldo and Modric offers an indication of the standards he sees within the group. Both Saka and Raya have featured regularly as Arsenal compete on multiple fronts this season.
The comments arrived during a wider interview in which Ødegaard also discussed other topics away from football. The focus on his five best teammates, however, quickly drew attention because of the mix of past and present names. Arsenal supporters will note that two of the five currently wear the red and white.
Saka has been a consistent starter on the right wing, while Raya has kept clean sheets and made important saves in key matches. Ødegaard’s description of Raya as “unbelievable at the moment” aligns with the goalkeeper’s recent form. The pairing of those two with Haaland, Modric and Ronaldo places them in rare company from the captain’s viewpoint.
Arsenal continue their season with both players expected to remain central to the plans. The captain’s public assessment adds an internal endorsement to the contributions Saka and Raya have already made this term. Further performances will determine whether that view is reinforced in the months ahead.